Peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel nucleic acid molecule that can be used for detection of peanuts. The peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is characterized in that it binds to a peanut allergen with a dissociation constant of 10 nM or less, and preferably contains a polynucleotide consisting of any of base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 15, for example. It is also preferable that, for example, the peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule of the present invention binds with significant specificity to the peanut allergen rather than to a soybean protein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule, comprising at least one polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (a) to (b):
 (a) a polynucleotide consisting of any of base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 4, 6-10 and 12-14; and 
 (b) a polynucleotide that consists of a base sequence with an identity of at least 80% to any of the base sequences of the polynucleotide (a) and binds to a peanut allergen. 
 
     
     
       2. The peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide is a DNA. 
     
     
       3. The peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide comprises a modified base. 
     
     
       4. A peanut detection sensor comprising:
 a peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule; and 
 a nucleic acid molecule that forms a G-quartet structure, wherein the peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule comprises at least one of the following polynucleotides (a′) and (b′): 
 (a′) a polynucleotide consisting of any of base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 15; and 
 (b′) a polynucleotide that consists of a base sequence with an identity of at least 80% to any of the base sequences of the polynucleotide (a′) and binds to a peanut allergen. 
 
     
     
       5. The peanut detection sensor according to  claim 4 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule that forms a G-quartet structure is a DNAzyme or an RNAzyme. 
     
     
       6. The peanut detection sensor according to  claim 4 , further comprising a porphyrin. 
     
     
       7. A method for detecting a peanut, the method comprising the step of:
 detecting a peanut allergen in a sample by causing the sample and the peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1  to come into contact with each other to bind the peanut allergen in the sample and the peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the sample is at least one selected from the group consisting of foods, food ingredients, and food additives. 
 
     
     
       9. A method for detecting a peanut, the method comprising the step of:
 detecting a peanut allergen in a sample by causing the sample and the peanut detection sensor according to  claim 4  to come into contact with each other to bind the peanut allergen in the sample and the peanut-binding nucleic acid molecule. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the sample is at least one selected from the group consisting of foods, food ingredients, and food additives.